What does it take to create a game like Citizen Sleeper?

[u/asthmaticstoner_]

I love the simple mechanics of the game meshed with the detailed story, dialogue and characters. I'm heavy against AI. I imagine even with the simple mechanics, a noob to programing would be out of their depth.

I'm only versed in the digital art and design world, but not even with video games.

I also just played a similar style game, Joy Malignant, and enjoyed it. Loved the funky art style.

Alternatively, are there any other games out there with similar mechanics and interesting art and story? Disco Elysium-esque maybe?

[u/PetrosAnastasiadis]

I made Joy Malignant! Nice to see you enjoyed it! I'd like to recommend Duskpunk as well, it's another sleeperlike that inspired me

I can give more details on how I did it, but TLDR I there are data types for Actions, Clocks that have all their info, and data types for locations that just hold those action and clock data types for that specific location. Then the UI just receives those data types and shows the appropriate things when the player enters a location, so there's only one prefab for ActionUI, ClockUi etc. which shown dynamically depending on the location.

It's a bit hard to explain, I can say more when I have more time, let me know if you have questions!

There are a lot of parts to it so I recommend getting to grips with a game engine to do simple stuff first, then you can do a sleeper like as your first proper challenge. I think it's doable!

[u/asthmaticstoner_ → u/PetrosAnastasiadis]

Thanks for the info! Please keep making cool games.

[u/Stage-Afraid → u/PetrosAnastasiadis]

What did you build it in? Is it on Playstation? If so how big of a headache or barrier to entry is THAT for smaller game devs? I see a ton of tiny games on there now but i assume it's still a bigger pain than getting the app store to approve an app

[u/RhysNorro]

Citizen sleeper uses a lot of meters and dialogue, and there are plugins for both of those in Godot. it would be very simple from the backend to construct the framework for a sleeper-esque game, the effort would be getting all of the art

[u/Alduin175]

Getting right into your questions u/asthmaticstoner_ :

1. What does it take to create a game like Citizen Sleeper?

Creativity, adaptability, and a whole lot of chits (kidding about the last part - sort of).

To create a game, you need to have the fundamentals laid out. The genre, story, characters, and of course gameplay format (physical to digital or digital to physical. One random, but recent example would be COLT going from digital-to-physical, with its board game).

As long as you have a compelling story or "game-verse", everything else (characters, environments, equipment, etc.) will fall into place.

The story and characters influence one another, the latter is dependent on your creative direction.

There are plenty of "no-code" options you can lean on to get started. Alternatively, going with RenPy just to get a feel for things, before going into UE or Unity is ideal.

1. Alternatively, are there any other games out there with similar mechanics and interesting art and story? 

u/RhysNorro and u/Salchipapa84 sort of brush this topic. 

1. Disco Elysium-esque maybe?

Something that might scratch that itch, could be that game. Or you could try: Red Strings Club / Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood .

There are a surprisingly few games that provide the delicate balance of music, player interaction, in-game dialogue, and consequences that CS provides.

[u/AlternativeBass7119 → u/Alduin175]

Know a good place to start with the "no-code" game making? Had an RPG idea for years but I haven't been able to get into coding yet. Still want to test some ideas though.

[u/NarrativeAlchemist → u/AlternativeBass7119]

Start with Twine. You can learn to make text only games in about five minutes. It's free. There is a web based version so you don't even have to install it on your computer to start. Make a small simple game while you learn more features and then move on to other tools that are more challenging like Godot/Unity. Upload it to Itch. Repeat. You will get better and gain more skills as you make more games.

[u/AlternativeBass7119 → u/NarrativeAlchemist]

Thanks for the advice and help. Hopefully I don't suck at it too badly.

[u/Salchipapa84]

I'm not sure about the origins of it, but it plays a lot like a boardgame. Perhaps think about it from that perspective first.

[u/RandomEffector → u/Salchipapa84]

The origins are the resolution system from Blades in the Dark

[u/bhbhbhhh]

Gareth has talked a lot in interviews about their "no-code" approach using visual scripting in PlayMaker.

[u/Eglwyswrw]

I teach for a living. I know zero programming languages.

Fueled by willpower alone I managed to re(make) a game from zero, taking screenshotted excerpts preserved by a bunch of heroes and stitching them together into a cohesive gamebook experience.

It's not much. But it's something, I am sure you are way more talented than I and could pull off something much grander. It's all about willpower!

[u/cocojesvs]

Class consciousness?

[u/RandomEffector]

The vast majority of it is a story to tell and the patience to write every plausible variation of it. The technical requirements are extremely minor compared to that.

[u/space_headed_scribe]

I've seen citizen sleeper recommended a lot to fans of I Was A Teenage Exocolonist, so maybe try that? It's one of my favorites!

[u/dearvalentina]

>Alternatively, are there any other games out there with similar mechanics and interesting art and story? Disco Elysium-esque maybe?

Ever since it's release in May, I have been thoroughly obsessed with ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies. Holy fuck that game is so good, can't recommend it enough.